The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-30

gu, tIlht WHdtSOSVcT COiuoS W pass Is 50
ordained that God is not thereby the
author of sin; yet we see his provi-
dences are such, that he must be the
author of the evils which fall upon the
innocent and unsuspecting victims of
crime, such as murder, war, and all
other cruelty. If God did not ordain
these woes to humanity by direct
thought and purpose, he has most as
suredly permitted all the long line of
martyrdoms, including the death of
Christ upon the cruel cross, and all the
cruelties of slavery, war and lust, to
rest upon the human family from the
dawn of history to the present hour.
But no claim is made in the Bible, that
God is not responsible for the cruciix-
ion of his Son. The language is: Him
being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye
have taken, and by wicked hands have
crucifed and Slain" (Acts ii. 23).
Here no attempt is made to shift the
difficulty and throw the blame of
Christ's exposure upon others. for he
was delivered by the express and ''deter-
inmate counsel and foreknowledge of
God" The millions of martyrs were also
delivered by the same "determinate
counsel and foreknowledge. All the vic
TINS Of sin and wrong were thus deliver
ed likewise. Wrong and ruin did not fall
upon the children of God as a surprise
as an unlocked for event. 1t was all
foreseen and provided for. For the
creation was made subject to vanity
(sin) not of its own will, but by reason
of him who subjected it, in hope that
the creation itself shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the sons of God"
Thus the law Of compensation runs
through all the providences of God.
If wrong is permitted now, satisfaction
for, atonement for, the wrong shall most
certainly be made-shall certainly come
to the injured to his full compensation,
all in good time. God has placed man
under no law that he would not be gov
erned by himself. Justice on earth is
justice among all the hosts of heaven
is justice upon the throne of Omnipo-
tence itself. Thus to afflicted men he
promises 'For our light affection
which is but for moment, worketh for
us far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory" z Cor. iv. ~ Atone
ment or compensation for Christ's suf-
ferings, in bearing the cruelties of sin,
are announced in the following words :
"Who, for the joy that was set before
him, endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand
of God" 1t was in view of the joy
that Christ was reconciled to the cross.
Thus it may be assumed, if God has
suffered any evil to fall upon Adam, or
any of Adams posterity, ne holds him
self under the frmest obligation to
provide an ample atonement therefor !;
or, in other words, to render full and
equivalent satisfaction for the tempo
rary evil thus permitted to fall upon
man. Thus: ssAs in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made
alive" is tlsp~apostolic statement of
Gods balance sheet. The same thought
is expressed in the allegorical language
of Genesis iii. Is: 1.-THE seed of the
woman shall bruise thy head" las an
atonement for the evil, "and thou shalt
bruise his heel"
We refer to these passages to show
that whatever atonement is typified in
these early Bible promises, it is surely
not one of blood, or of punishments;
but is wholly compensatory. 1t is res
titution, not retribution. And now
having shown that the God of the Bible,
proposes making satisfaction for the
evils of sin, thereby rendering strict
Justice to all his children, in demand
ing AUST compensation for every wrong,
from the guilty, and to the injured, we
shall next consider the plan by which
such restitution is to be made to all
men who have been injured by sin.
[REMAINDER NEXT WEEK.